System for controlling and recording sales, receipts, &amp;c.



No. 668,714. Y intenten Feb. 26,1901.

r. .1. HUFFMAN. SYSTEM FUR GUNTRDLLING MID RECORDING SALES. BECEIPTS,Cw.

(Application ma my 1v, 1899.)

4 Sheds-Shao! l.

(llo Modal.)

THE uonms Evans co.. Horauwm wAsmNGToN. n. o.

SYSTEM FUR GONTRDLLING ND RECORDING SALES, REGEIPTS, 81.0.

(Application led lhy 17, 1899.) (ip llodsl.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N0. 668,7!4. 'Patlitdfeh- 26,191".

F. J. HOFFMAN.'

SYSTEM F08 CONTRLLING AND BEGURDIVNG SALES, RECElFTS,-&c.

(Appueif'xm iueu'my rr,` 1899.) i (H0 MOMI-J 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Fig. 6

Patented Feb. 26, I90I.

F. J. HOFFMAN. SYSTEM FOR CDNTBULLING AND REGDRDING SALES, RECEIPTS, &c.

(llo Modal (APPHMW al my 11, 1899.)

[n: nanars vcfzns cp. ugraurnm wAsnmnYon, mc.

@are STATES PATENT trios.

FREDERIK JACOBUS HOFFMAN, OF BOULOGNE-SUR-SEINE, FRANCE.

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AND RECORDING SALS, RECEIPTS, &c.

SEECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 668,714, dated February26, 1901.

Application filed May 1'7, 1899. Serial No. 717,208. tNo model.)

To all whom, it 11a/ay concer-1c:

Be it known that I, FREDERIK JACOBUS HOFFMAN, artist, a subject of HerMajesty the Queen of the Netherlands, residing at No. 2 Chaussee duPont, Boulogne-sur-Seine, France, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Systems for Controlling and Recording Sales, Receipts,and Like Operations, (for which I have made application for LettersPatent in France under date of January 18, 1899; in Germany under dateof March 25, 1899, and in Belgium under date of March 28, 1899;) andI dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same.

My invention consists, broadly speaking, in a system by which it isrendered possible to control and keep an exact record of all operations,such as sales in stores and receipts of moneys. The system isparticularly adapted as a means for controlling the sums of moneyreceived in the cash-department of a store, while simultaneouslyaffording ready means for controlling and recording the amounts of thesales made by the individual salesmen of the store. The invention is,however, not limited to that special application, because it is alsocapable ofA adaptation to all cases geuerally where it is a question ofcontrolling the delivery or receipt of goods or other articles.

I will describe the invention as applied to the control of moneysreceived in the cashdepartment. of a store and simultaneously to therecording of the amounts of the sales made by the individual salesmen ofthe store.

The gist of the invention resides, mainly, in the employment of severalseries of paper strips placed in a box or case, one box for eachsalesman of the particular store. Each strip of each series has printedon it a given number, which is repeated as many times as may bedesirablesay one hundred times-and these like numbers bear consecutiveexponents playing the part of rotationnumbers. Each series comprisesnine strips, each bearing repeat-ed thereon a given number and anexponent, as already stated, and each strip has its own number from 1 to9, inclusive. The series of paper strips may amount to, say, six innumber, the first of which applies to hundredths or cents, the second totenths or dimes, the third to 'limit to this number of series.

units or dollars, the fourth to tens of units, the fifth to hundreds ofunits, and the sixth to thousands of units. There is, however, no Eachstrip is preferably formed of a narrow band of paper or equivalentsubstance Wound into a coil and bears, as before mentioned, therepetition of a given numeral, which varies from 1 to 9, inclusive, thesaid numeral being repeated, say, one hundred times and each numeralhaving its exponent and an indication of its value. 4

Let us consider one ofthe seriessay the series of strips belonging tothe unit-s. Each ofthe same is formed of a paper strip, the first ofwhich will bear a repetition of the numeral 1 and an exponent, viz:

l1 l2 13 14 l5 units i units units i units l units le u nits and so on,the second a repetition of the numeral 2 and an exponent, the third arepetition of the numeral 3 and an exponent, and so on up to the ninth,which will bear the repetition of the numeral 9 and an exponent.

The invention also consists in a box or case in which the series ofstrips are arranged and grouped. i

The invention also consists in a duplicate strip, of which one half isdelivered to the salesman for use and the other remains in the hands ofa superintendent in charge.

The invention also consists in a bill-blank, which the salesman fills upfor each sale.

The invention also consists in a controllingsheet which the salesmanfills up when he is called upon by the proprietor of the store to renderan account of the sales eected.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows the box or case unfoldedready for use. Fig. 2is asection of Fig. 1 on the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is asection of Fig. 1 on the line 3 3. Fig. et is, as compared with Fig. 1,showing the box unfolded, a plan of the box closed. Fig. 5 is a plansimilar to Fig. 4c, except that the cover of the box is raised. Fig. 6is a side View of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows one of the strips complete. Fig.8 shows the same strip severed in two. Fig. 9 shows the salesmansbillblank. Fig. 10 shows the controlling-sheet.

In the instance illustrated in the accomhanded.

panying drawings the box or case d is preferably of book form composedof two main portions a a2, connected by hinges a3 and held together whenclosed by a clasp or other like fastening a4, hinged at @Sand engaging ahook c6 on the portion u? of the box. The portion a is externally closedby a cover a7, hinged at as, and the portion a2 is partially closed by acover a, hinged at d10, Fig. 6, and partially bya fixed wall a11. Asuitable fastening @12, secured to the fixed wall @11, holds t-he coverd1 in its closed position. The shape and arrangement of the box shown inthe drawings are, however, immaterial. Any other equivalent arrangementmay be employed with advantage.

The strip is formed of a ribbon of paper b, Fig. 7, long enough toreceive a repetition of one given numeral-say one hundred timesarrangcdin two parallel rows and separated by a close ruling or other markingh'. At the foot, or rather at the firstoneof the numerals l, is printedthe particular designation for which the strip is intended-that is tosay, it bears one of the following words: hundredths, tenths, units,tens, hundreds,77 or thousands, and each numeral is accompanied by anexponent b2, as shown. By way of illustration, the strip ZJ (shown inFig. 7) is intended to represent units. The strip when so prepared issevered by an irregular cut through the marking b' into two halves b3b4, Fig. 8, of which one is handed to the salesman for use in the mannerhereinafter set forth and the other is kept by a superintendent, who incase of need or snspicion can at all times control the authenticity ofthe strips either in actual use or already used and disposed of by thedifferent salesmen. Prior to its being severed the duplicate strip maybe stamped with the date, a rotation-number, the name, or otherconventional sign appertaining to the salesman to whom the one-half ofthe strip is By keeping an account of the quantity of various stripshanded by the superintendent to the salesmen the superintendent canreadily calculate and ascertain the amount of sales made within a giventime by any particular salesman, taking into account the amountsrepresented by the strips still contained in the box of the saidsalesman. The reverse side of the strip Zie-2. e., the opposite side tothat which is printed-is gnmmed for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

A suitable number of strips b, each having printed on themtheirparticular designationviz: first, hundredths, tenths, units, tens,hundreds, or thousands, as the case may be; second, a repeated numeral,and, third, an exponent-are rolled up into a coil of small size b5 andare respectively placed in proper order into small compartments @13,Figs. l, 2, 3, and 5, formed in the portions a a2 of the box bylongitudinal partitions @14 and transverse partitions m15. In theinstance illustra-ted the box is shown wider than is neces- Sary for thereception of the six series of different rolled-np strips b5, so as toleave a vacant space a1 in each horizontal row at the left of theapparatus in Figs. 3 and 5, into which a reserve of strips B may bestored np for use, if desired.

In order to hold the ends of the strips and at the same time to guidethem, l provide a set of rods each comprising three rods b 575s for eachrow of strips b. Each rod is at one end bent at right angles, so as toforma handle b9, by which the rod can he turned and pulled out whenrequired, while the opposite end engages a hole in the wood, wherein itis supported, as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in the drawings, each stripfirst passes under the rst guide-rod h6 and lies [iat against thepartition a1, placed at right angles to the partition L14 and on top ofthe rolls, as shown in Fig. 2, then passes also under the secondguide-rod 197 and over the third guide-rod bs, beyond which it projectssuiliciently for enabling the salesman to seize it with the iingers,draw it out lo the extent'l of one'nnmeral, and then tear it off, ashereinafter explained.

On that side of the two portions a' a2 of the box whereat the handle b9projects is provided a ledge D10, Figs. l, 3, 5, and 6, between whichand the said portion ct/ a2 are interposed distance-pieces Z71111111111, fastened by means of screws Z912 or otherwise.

In addition to its being supported at both ends each guide-rod h6, 197,or 1911 may be additionally guided by pegs 1113, driven at suitableintervals into the partitions (L14, the heads of the said pegsprojecting above the guiderods. The said partitions (L14 are secured inplace by screws a engaging the vertical partitions C015.

The strips corresponding to the units may be separated from thosecorresponding to the tenths by a vertical bar @18, held in place overthe guide-rods b 117 D8 by screws a1 or otherwise. A similar bar d20 hasbeen illustrated as separating the strips corresponding to the hundredsfrom those corresponding to the tens. Any other means may be resorted tofor distinguishing the series of strips from each other-as, forinstance,by means of colors, each series having its own color.

The bill-blank shown in Fig. i) is composed after the fashion of anybill as used in stores, except that it is or may b e formed of threeparts and that one of these parts is of a special design. The bill-blankc, a number ot which are contained in the portion t2 of the box, (seeFigs. l and 2,) is formed of a main portion c', Fig. 9, a detachablestub c2, and a detachable controlling-slip c3, the three parts heiligdet-ached from each other on the perforated lines c4 c5. On each portionare preferably printed the number or name of the salesman and therotation or consecutive number of the bill-blank as a whole. Thesalesman writes on the portion c the designation and price of the goodssold and he re- IOC) IIO

peatsthem upon thedetachable stub c2, which actly the quantity of unusedstrips still rei is intended to remain in his charge, While the portionc is handed to the purchaser after it has been receipted at thecash-department or otherwise. The controlling-slip c3 has likewiseprinted on it the corresponding designation in respect of salesman andconsecutive number, and it is, furthermore, divided into as manydivisions c6 as there are series of strips in the apparatus. In'eachdivision is printed a zero in some ink soluble in water for the purposehereinafter explained.

The operation is as follows: Assume that the apparatus has been fittedwith the various series of numbered strips and that no number has as yetbeen detached from any strip. Assume also that the bill-blank c has notbeen made use of. The salesman on making a sale, the amount of which issupposed to be seventy-eight dollars and sixty cents, writesthe natureofthegoodsand that amount on both portions c c2, after which he tears ofthe iirst number 7 of the strip corresponding to the tens and sticks it,its rear face being gummed, into the corresponding division of the tens.He also tears off the first number 8 of the strip corresponding to theunits, also the first number 6 of the strip corresponding to the tenths,and sticks them respectivelyinto their proper divisions. No numberrequires to be applied to the section for the hundredths, because theamount does not comprise any hundredths, and therefore the zero alreadyprinted on the bill-blank will find its use. Fig. l shows the respectivestrips after the first number thereof has been torn off. The bill beingnow made up is ready to be dealt with. The stub c2 is detached andretained by the salesman. The main portion or bill proper, c', islikewise detached and handed to the purchaser after having beenreceipted by the cashier, and the remaining slip c3 is retained by thecash, department. The zero in each division c6 of the controlling-slipis preferably printed in some ink solublein water, as hereinbeforestated, in order to detect fraud. For instance, a cashier after havinghanded to him the bill shown in Fig. l amounting to $578.60 and afterhaving received that amount might unpaste, say, the number correspondingto the tens, so as to make the bill appear so much less in amount, thatfact would be rendered readily visible owing to the color of which theink is formed being partly, if not entirely, carried away by andadhering to the number removed by the cashier.

The controlling-sheet,which each salesman iills up when called uponbythe proprietor of the store to render an account of the sales effectedduring a given time, is composed of a blank form. (Shown in Fig. l0.) Byfilling the same up, as hereinafter described, the proprietor is enabledto ascertain at any time not only the amount of the sales effected bythe various clerks or in certain departments of his store, but he canalso determine exmaining in the hands of each clerk.

The controlling-sheet d contains-say at the top portion cZ-the name ofthe storekeeper and blanks intended to be Iilled up for indicating thenumber of the sheet, the date, and the number of the salesman. On theleft portion. d2 it is divided into as many .columns d3 as there areseries of strips, such columns corresponding in the present instance tothe thousands, hund reds,tens, units, tenths, and hundredths, anadditional column d4 being provided for the nine numerals from l to 9,inclusive. Each column d3 is itself divided u p into four differentheads d5 d6 17 d8. In the one d5 the salesman writes the rotation-number which appears on the strip at the time he begins operations; iu theone d6 he writes the rotationnumber which appears on the strip at thetime he is making up his account; in theone (Z7 he writes a numbercorresponding to the quantity of numbers utilized in the strip, and inthe one d8 he writes the respective totals. On the right portion. olf itis likewise divided up for the purpose of containing a recapitulation,as shown.

Assuming a salesman to be called upon to give an account of the saleseffected by him at the time the apparatus has been employed to theeXte'nt described so far-viz., at the time the sales amount toseventy-eight dollars and sixty cents-he will iill out thecontrolling-sheet in the following manner: In the lirst place, he willput a number to the sheet, the date, and his own number or other likedesignation, after which he will proceed to fill out the various columnsd3. In the head d5 of column d3 for the thousands he will Write (on aline with the numeral 1,Which designates the number printed on the stripfor the thousands) the exponent-number which appears on the strip forthe said thousands-Viz., l and likewise with reference to the remainingnumerals 2, 3, 4, ((5,77 (6,77 ((7,77 SSU 49.77 these strips have beenutilized the exponents on each will be the numeral l. (See Fig. l.) Thesalesman willconsequently write that numeral throughout the said head d5for the thousands-column d3. He will next fill out the head d6 of thesaid thousands-column d3, such head being intended, as hereinbeforestated, to contain therotation-nu mberappeariugat the time on thevarious strips for the thousands. As none of these strips have beenutilized the rotation-numbers will be the same as for head d5, and thesalesman will consequently write the same numeral l throughout the saidhead d6 for the thousands. He will then fill out the head C17 of thesame column d3, such head being intended, as hereinbefore stated, tocontain the number corresponding to the quantity of numbers torn o fromthe strips. As no number has been torn oif any of the strips for thethousands the salesman will write zero, after which he will proceed toIOO IIO

write down the total, which evidently will be m'l. He will afterwardproceed to similarly fill out the remaining heads d5 (16617 d8 for thecolumns d3, corresponding to the hundreds, lens, units, tenths, andhundredths, the operation being rendered readily apparent from thedrawings, whereby it will be seen that the controlling-sheet willshowsalesto the amount of $78.60. The salesman finally proceeds to fill outthe right portion d of the sheet, as will be readily understood onexamining such portion,and the controlling-sheet CZ being completelyfilled up is now handed to the storekeeper.

Having now set forth the nature of my invention and the best means I amacquainted with for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to bedistinctly understood that I do not lilnit myself to the precise detailsherein described, and illustrated in the accompanyingr drawings, becausethey may vary considerably without departing from the spirit of theinvention. For instance, as regards the billblank c and thecontrolling-sheet d both may be modified to suit particular conditionsor circumstances, and yet answer the purpose herein contemplated to bemet. Again, the apparatus itself may vary as to arrangement andconstruction, especially as regards the means for containing and guidingthe strips, and yet still retain the characteristic features of myinvention.

I claim- 1. In a system for recording and controlling sales, receipts,deliveries and like operations, the combination with a series ofsalesmans strips having one irregular edge, of a similar series ofsuperintendents strips having corresponding irregular edges each of saidstrips bearing a single numeral repeated, a decimal designation as unitsand multiples thereof anda consecutive exponent, and a salesmansbill-blank intended to receive numerals severed from said salesmansstrips for the purpose of combining the single numerals so as torepresent numeric values, substantially as described.

2. In a system for recording and controlling sales, receipts, deliveriesand like operations, the combination with a series of salesmans stripshaving one irregular edge, of a similar series of superintendents stripshaving corresponding irregular edges each of said strips having a singlenumeral repeated and a consecutive exponent, said strips beingdifferentiated from each other by colors, and a salesmans bill-blankintended to receive numerals severed from the said salesmans strips forthe purpose of combining the single figures so as to represent numericvalues, substantially as described.

3. In a system for recording` and controlling sales, receipts,deliveries and like operations, consisting of a series of strips each ofwhich bears a single numeral repeated, said numerals having consecutiveexponents, in combination with a salesmans bill-blank having a separableportion adapted to receive numerals severed from said strips and dividedinto as many divisions as there are strips, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

4. In a system for controlling and recording sales, receipts, deliveriesand like operations, the combination with a series of gummed strips,each of which bears on the ungummed face a single numeral repeated, saidnumerals having consecutive exponents, the said strips beingdifferentiated from each other by different colors, of a salesmansbill-blank having a separable portion containing divisions intended toreceive numerals severed from said strip, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. In a system for controlling and recording sales, receipts, deliveriesand like operations, the combination with a series of strips, each ofwhich bears a single numeral repeated, each numeral having a decimaldesignation as units and multiples or subinulti ples thereof and aconsecutive exponent, of a salesmans bill-blau k having a separableportion containing divisions intended to receive numerals severed fromsaid strips, the divisions of said blank having marked thereon a zero insome ink soluble in water, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

6. In a system for controlling and recording sales, receipts, deliveriesand like operations, the combination with a series of strips, each ofwhich bears a single numeral repeated, said numerals having consecutiveexponents, the said strips being dilferentiated from each other bydifferent colors, of a salesmans billblank having a separable portioncontaining divisions intended to receive numerals severed from saidstrips, the divisions of thc blank having marked thereon a Zero in someink soluble in water, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FREDERII( JACOBUS HOFFMAN.

iVitnesses:

R. H. BRANDON, EDWARD P. MACLEAN.

IOO

